Masonry Contractor in Oakland, CA - Old Brick and Chimneys Repaired, New Walls Built
C&M Castro Valley Concrete & Masonry is a masonry contractor serving Oakland, CA. We repair older brick, mortar and chimneys, and build the retaining walls, paver driveways, walkways and stonework that go with Oakland homes.
- Fully licensed and insured.
- Free estimates at your property.
- We reply within 1 business day.
Oakland's older homes, flat streets and hillside lots
The houses we get called to in Oakland are mostly older homes on tight lots, and many still have their original brick chimneys, brick or stone front steps and garden walls that have been patched more than once. Down on the flatter streets, homes sit beside small storefronts and apartment buildings. Up in the hills the streets get steep and winding, and nearly every lot needs a wall somewhere to hold the yard. We come over from Castro Valley, where I started the business in 2013, and it's the same kind of work we do in nearby cities like Fairview.
That mix shapes most of our jobs here. On the older houses I spend time working out what the last repair was and why it didn't hold, and on the hillside lots, getting brick, block and mortar up the steps or down a narrow side yard is part of planning the work.
Masonry services for Oakland homes and yards
Foundation repair
Older Oakland houses often sit on brick or block foundations that crack or shift with age, and we find out why before we patch or rebuild a section.
Chimney repair
Plenty of Oakland homes still have their original brick chimneys, and loose bricks or a crumbling crown, the sloped cap on top, are common calls for us.
Tuckpointing
When the mortar joints on an older brick front or garden wall go sandy, we rake them out and refill them so the brick stays tight and sound.
Brick repair
Bricks with flaking faces, cracks or a loose grip on steps, porches and walls get cut out and replaced with the closest match we can find.
Driveway pavers
Short, steep and narrow driveways are common here, and pavers set on a well-packed base give you a surface we can lift and reset in sections later.
Retaining wall construction
Hillside lots across Oakland lean on retaining walls, so we build new ones with drainage behind them to keep water from building up and pushing the wall over.
Masonry restoration
Older brick and stone homes here need repairs that fit what's already there, so we match the mortar color, joint style and brick before touching a wall.
Fireplace installation
If you're adding a fireplace or replacing a worn-out one in an older Oakland living room, we build the firebox and surround in brick or stone.
Stone veneer installation
Stone veneer, a thin facing of real or cast stone, dresses up a plain foundation, step riser or chimney without the weight of solid stone.
Concrete block walls
Block walls suit property lines and backyard terraces on sloped Oakland lots, and we fill the hollow cores with steel and grout where the wall needs strength.
Foundation block wall installation
When an old foundation wall under a house or addition has to be replaced, we lay new block on a proper footing, the wider concrete base underneath.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
Small Oakland backyards make every foot count, so we build compact brick or block counters and grill surrounds that fit the space you actually have.
Walkway construction
Front walks and side paths on older lots are often cracked, lifted by roots or uneven, and we rebuild them in brick, stone or pavers on a firm base.
Brick wall installation
A new brick garden or front wall sits comfortably beside an older Oakland house when the brick, the laying pattern and the mortar color are picked to suit it.
Stone masonry
Stone steps, garden walls and old stone foundations turn up on many Oakland properties, and we repair or build them with stone set tight and level.
Brick pointing
Small patches of crumbling mortar around a chimney, steps or a wall are worth pointing early, refilling just the bad joints before water gets into the brick.
Get a free masonry estimate for your Oakland home
We get back to you within one business day to set a time, then I come out to look at the work with you and follow up with a written estimate. It's free and there's no obligation.
(510) 264-7156- hello@castrovalleyconcreteandmasonry.com
- Based in
- Castro Valley, CA 94546
- Hours
- Mon–Fri: 7 AM–10 PM, Sat–Sun: 8 AM–9 PM
Working in Oakland: permits, licenses and what sets the price
In Oakland, building permits go through the city. Its Planning & Building department takes the applications, and its Bureau of Building oversees construction. When your job needs a permit, we take care of the paperwork and inspections, and we start on it early because the city wants an approved Recycling Plan and Recycling Summary Report before it issues a permit. Before you hire anyone, it's worth checking two licenses, the state contractor's license and an Oakland business license, and the questions further down explain when each one applies.
Price here moves mostly with three things: how far the damage runs past what you can see, how much old brick and mortar has to be matched, and how easy it is to get the crew and material to the work on a steep or tight lot. The schedule turns on the permit, if your job needs one, and on how much has to come apart before the full picture is clear. I look at it with you, and then you get a written estimate that spells out the work and the materials, the same way we handle jobs in San Leandro and back home in Castro Valley.
Why Oakland houses and yards need masonry work
Old brick usually outlasts its mortar, and that's by design, because mortar is meant to be the softer part that wears so the brick doesn't. On a lot of Oakland houses the joints have gone sandy after decades, especially on chimneys where the brick is exposed on every side, and once the joints open up, water gets into the brick and loosens it. We find where the water's getting in first, then rake out the bad joints and repoint with a mortar soft enough to suit the old brick, since a hard modern mortar can crack the very bricks it's holding.
Sloped lots are the other big reason we're called. A retaining wall holds back a lot of soil, and when there's no drainage behind it, water builds up until the wall leans or cracks, so every wall we rebuild gets drainage in behind it.
How a masonry job runs when you call us in Oakland
From your first call to the final walk-through, here's how a job at your Oakland house goes and when it helps to be home.
Call or send a message
Call (510) 264-7156 or use the form and tell us what you're seeing, a photo helps if you have one. I set up a time to come out and look at it with you.
Walk the job with me
I come out myself, look at the work with you and explain what I think caused it and what your choices are. Afterward you get a written estimate spelling out the work and the materials, so you know the cost before you decide anything.
Sort out permits and scheduling
Once you say go, we take care of any permit your job needs and put the work on the calendar. You don't need to be home for the paperwork side of it.
Do the work, then walk it
My crew does the work with me checking in as it goes. At the end we walk the finished job together so you can see it up close and ask anything.
Questions about masonry work in Oakland
How do I get a building permit for masonry work in Oakland?
If we take your job and it needs a permit, we apply for it and handle the inspections, so you don't have to work through it yourself. The city says it has made applying easier through Same-Day Digital Permits. Call (510) 264-7156 and we can talk through the permit steps for your job.
Does a retaining wall in Oakland need a building permit?
Some don't, but only within limits the city sets. The city's summary of work that needs no building permit includes retaining walls, along with fences and small structures, and each comes with limits listed on the city's exemption page. We check your wall against those limits before we start, and if it needs a permit, we get one.
How do I know if my masonry contractor needs a California license?
In California, a contractor needs a state license whenever the project requires a building permit, uses any additional workers, or has contracts totaling $1,000 or more in labor and materials. The Contractors State License Board issues those licenses, and the only exceptions are small jobs with no permit, no employees and combined costs under $1,000, done by someone who doesn't advertise as a licensed contractor. We're fully licensed and insured, so ask us about it anytime.
How much can a contractor ask for as a down payment in California?
The state license board says a contractor can't ask for or accept a down payment of more than $1,000 or 10 percent of the total contract price, whichever is less. The board applies that to home improvement projects in California and states it in its guidance on rebuilding after declared disasters.
Does a contractor from outside Oakland need an Oakland business license?
Yes, the city says a business located outside Oakland that does business in the city owes Oakland business tax, the same as anyone who conducts business there. The city's business tax FAQ, which carries no date, lists an initial $88.00 registration fee for the business tax certificate, so check the city's business licensing page for current terms. It's a fair thing to ask anyone you're thinking of hiring.
What makes masonry repair cost more on an older Oakland house?
Hidden damage is usually the biggest factor. On old brick, mortar that looks fine from the sidewalk can be sandy an inch back, and a chimney that looks like it only needs pointing sometimes needs its top few rows of brick rebuilt. That's why I'd rather get up close before giving you a number, so the written estimate covers what's really there.
Castro Valley, CA
Tell us about your Oakland masonry job
Small cracks and loose bricks are easier to fix before water works into them, so call (510) 264-7156 or send the form and ask about the permit steps for your job while you're at it.